“Kokopax Classic Baby Carrier”

I love baby wearing, and all the benefits and convenience it has to offer! There’s so many different styles of carriers out there, and I really think every mom should at least have two different kinds. One of them should be a structured carrier. While structured carriers can’t be used with newborns, they are great for when baby starts getting older and more curious.

Kokopax sent me their Classic Carrier to try out with my 14 month old. You might recognize Kokopax carriers from the Ellen Degenres show! Celebs like Sarah Jessica Parker, Giada De Laurentiis and Celine Dion have been spied using this carrier (just to name a few).

Right off the bat, this carrier was a hit! My daughter is used to being in a carrier. Even though she hadn’t seen this one before, as soon as I put her in it she knew what was up. We were going for a walk! She loves her evening walks.

I was really really happy with how light this carrier is! The Kokopax website says it weighs 3 lbs – I believe it. It would be no issue to carry this thing around in say, an airport. I love that about it. The next thing I noticed is it came with it’s own dust bag! I like that I can put it away somewhere and not worry about it being covered in dust, or dirt in the truck of my car or in a closet. Very cool.

Here’s some quick facts about the Classic Carrier:

• Lightweight – only 3Lbs!

• Kickstand for stability while loading baby

• Has ties for toys

• Can be used with babies from 6 months to 2 years (up to 35 lbs!)

• Made of 100& cotton canvas

One of the features of this carrier is the ability for it to stand on it’s own while you put baby in. The back of it has sort of a kickstand on the frame that pops out to hold it steady. This is a neat feature because, you could actually use this carrier like a seat when you are out and about. Or at a friends house maybe. Just anytime you need to put baby down, but don’t want them to crawl away.

One thing to note though, the strap buckle is way down inside the carrier seat. That makes it very difficult to buckle your kiddo in. I do wish it was located at a higher, more accessible point. But the benefit of that, it’s harder for your kiddo to unbuckle it themselves.

After doing some trial runs with the carrier around the neighborhood, we decided to take it hiking. I think that’s the best use of this carrier. The position that the carrier sits in, when put on properly is great for extended wearing while being active. The bottom of the carrier rests at hip level against your back, and of course the shoulder straps are supportive on top. So you get a pretty even distribution of weight all over. This makes the carrier comfortable to wear. It also helps keep added pressure off your feet, which I love. My feet are always the first thing to ache when hiking, my back comes next.

One thing I found that I didn’t like, was the width of the shoulder straps. They are set a little wider than I am used to. It’s not a major issue, but it is something to think about. I have a very average frame. I think a smaller framed person may struggle to keep the straps on their shoulders in a comfortable position. I wish there was a chest strap to keep the shoulder straps securely in position. That’s probably the only thing I would change about this carrier if I could.

To test dad friendliness, I had my hubby try it out. He loved it! He was able to put her right in, without struggle. Putting the carrier on with her in it was a snap for him (and me too), and he was able to quickly adjust it and be ready to go in minutes. Unlike other carriers that take some practice to learn how to use – this one is straight forward and dad friendly. He also felt it was comfortable while hiking, and it fit his frame perfectly. He wants one of his own (in a ‘manly’ color) so he can use it during the day for walks! This is the only carrier that he has ever actually asked for one of his own!

All in all, this is a great carrier. It’s already been used a million times in the short time we have had it. It’s so durable and yet easy to use, I can see getting another one for daddy to have.

I also want to let you know about some of the other products Kokopax has to offer! They make more than carriers. They have diaper totes as well, and they come in coordinating prints. So you could get a tote to go with your carrier. I know for sure I will be getting one of those. I don’t even own a diaper bag yet! (hello! My kid is over a year old. ha!)And they make sun hats for baby too. This carrier doesn’t have a canopy. So you MUST have a hat for your little one on a sunny day. There’s some other organic cotton accessories, like toys to check out too.

How pretty is that diaper bag?! I think I need one!

Kokopax would like to offer our readers a 10% discount on your next purchase. Use code moderndaymoms2011 at check out.

*Thanks to Kokopax for sending me this product to reivew. The statements in this article are my own opinions, and your results may vary*

I LOVE my kokopax classic carrier! This review is spot on, both the pros and cons. I use mine all the time. When I’m making dinner, I throw my daughter in the backpack and she feels like she’s part of the action, but I don’t have to worry about tripping over her the whole time. She loves to be in the backpack when we’re at the farmer’s market too! Such an awesome accessory to have – I would almost consider it a necessity.